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The broadcaster also said the thugs who hit him couldn’t be brought to justice despite the efforts of the Gardai.

Eoghan told the Irish Mirror: “[The Gardai] put in a stellar effort to be fair. They have them on CCTV but from behind, so they can’t identify their faces.

“Beyond that, what can you do?

“My taste and smell are still both gone. Completely. It’s strange, I could be eating a strawberry or a clove of garlic and I wouldn’t know the difference. It’s weird.

“I was talking to a doctor and they said forget about it for a year, even a year and a half. If it does [come back] it will happen very gradually.”

While the incident is still affecting his senses, Eoghan said he hasn’t let the frightening experience hold him back - and he has even returned to the pub he was at on the night of the attack.

Eoghan McDermott at the exclusive launch of the Heineken Star Series (Image: Anthony Woods)

“No I don’t [feel afraid on nights out] thankfully. It’s a hangover that a lot of people have.

“I was in the Laurels [pub] in Clondalkin that evening and I’ve been back loads since, it’s not a big [deal].”

Eoghan stepped out today for the launch of Pieta House’s Resilience Academy - a six week programme for second year students to provide them with “emotional resilience tools” to help cope with day-to-day pressures.

The programme is being rolled out around the country after being successfully piloted in four schools.